BWSS’ Empowering Women’s Employment Program

BWSS’ Empowering Women’s Employment Program (EWEP) comprises of two specialized, progressive programs that support women who have dealt with issues and the impact of violence and abuse in their lives to move towards independence and self-reliance.

These specialized women’s employment programs, one for Aboriginal women and one for Immigrant women, are designed to provide comprehensive support for each participant, both individually and within a group setting. These programs recognize and address unique barriers facing Aboriginal and Immigrant women and work to empower women to attain their employment goals while building a strong personal foundation. The connections that women make throughout this program will be sustained before, during and after their participation in the program.

The EWEP programs are unique in their approach by not only offering employment related skills training, volunteer placements and trades training, but also by working with the women where they are at and with a holistic approach. Women explore the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual areas in their lives to be able to begin to prepare for work in relatively balanced lives.

BWSS’ Empowering Women’s Employment Programs services include case management, individualized training, personal development, support groups, personal exploration and development, and employment related skills training, and educational assistance, counselling, crisis intervention, advocacy, legal advocacy, and referrals for women survivors of violence in relationships and sexual assault. Both the Aboriginal and Immigrant Women’s Employment Programs are women-centered, culturally-informed, and informed by an anti-oppression and feminist framework

Violence against women is the most pressing social issue of our time. There are many forms of violence and abuse – physical, sexual, spiritual, emotional, and financial abuse. There are a number of tactics an abuser may use to maintain power and control over the woman. Often the abuse begins with the use of isolation controlling what she does and who she sees and talk to; using jealousy to justify actions), use of emotional abuse (putting her down; calling her names; humiliating her), use of minimizing, denying, or blaming the woman (saying she caused the abuse; saying abuse didn’t happen), use of threats and coercion (threatening to hurt her, to commit suicide, or report her to the welfare or the legal system). Another tactic is using economic abuse such as preventing the woman from getting or keeping a job or taking her money, or not letting her know or have access to family income. All of these abusive tactics impact the woman in a multitude of ways like her ability to find or keep employment or to have any financial and economic power over her own life.

Recognizing, understanding, and overcoming the impact of abuse and violence is a major part of BWSS’ Empowering Women’s Employment Program. All women in the program receive individual and group support and trauma-recovery counselling as part of the personal exploration and development components of EWEP. Women then go on to concentrate on more employment-related information, skills development, and activities. It is essential and crucial that each woman in the program gets the time and space to look at the wounds abuse and violence has caused and find her own way, with support from BWSS and the EWEP teams, to heal and overcome them. It is only then that the woman will be able to fully attend to and focus on building her economic and financial freedom and independence through employment.

Aboriginal Women’s Employment Program

Because of the unique factors affecting First Nations, Metis and Inuit women, restoring tradition is essential to BWSS’ Aboriginal Women’s Employment Program. Our holistic approach, with the aspects of the nations from which participants originate, Coast Salish traditions, nations of the Urban Aboriginal Community, and the Medicine Wheel, takes into account cultural, emotional, intellectual and spiritual safety, as well as physical safety. Cultural identity will be essential part of the Aboriginal Women’s Employment program, using traditional healing practices such as smudge ceremony and prayer. We have identified a practice that works well for the entire range of participants in this program, regardless of their beliefs.

Immigrant Women’s Employment Program

The Immigrant Women’s Employment Program consists of an Immigrant women’s centred approach which places the woman at the centre of her experience and works from her perspective. The Employment Program acknowledges her reality and allows her to make the choices/decisions for empowerment as a part of her journey. An Immigrant women’s centred approach is holistic and respectful towards the woman, as it places her in a position where she is the specialist and the worker is her guide. Further elements include assessing Immigrant women’s education and knowledge from country of origin, awareness of settlement process, and previous work experience.

EWEP Program Length, Content, Criteria, & Contact Information

Program Length: Six (6) Months with Six (6) Months follow-up support

Program Content:

• Women-Centred & Culturally informed
• Continuous Intake
• Individualized Support
• Personal Visioning & Goal Setting
• Recognizing/Understanding & Overcoming the Impact of Abuse
• Self Care & Personal Safety
• Stopping the Violence Counselling & Crisis Support
• Employment Skills
• Career Research
• Job Search Skills
• Resume Writing
• Job Shadowing & Volunteer Placements

Program Criteria: The BWSS Empowering Women’s Employment Program is open to Aboriginal Women and Immigrant Women, who are victims of violence and/or abuse, and that being their primary barrier to employment, AND the individual is: a) in receipt of Income Assistance under the Employment and Assistance Act, determined to be immediately employable with short-term interventions; OR b) in receipt of Disability Assistance under the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act; OR c) in receipt of Income Assistance under the Employment and Assistance Act and qualifies as a Person with Persistent Multiple Barriers; AND d) not participating in any other Ministry-funded program.

Program Contact Information: For further information or to schedule an intake appointment, please contact us at: Direct line: 778.628.1867 Business line: 604.687.1868 E-mail: employmentprogram@bwss.org

BWSS’ Empowering Women’s Employment Program is funded by the Ministry of Housing and Social Development and by BWSS Social Enterprise Program